Illuminated suction brain retractor

ABSTRACT

A surgical tool comprising a brain retractor is shaped so that it may pass through an opening in the skull. The tool has an arched blade with a concave lower surface, flat in cross section, and a pair of tubes mounted on the marginal edges of the arched blade are flush with the lower surface thereof. Both tubes may be connected to a source of suction pressure for removal of fluids from the operating area, or only one may be so connected, with the other supplying a flushing fluid. A curved fiber optic element is mounted upon the arched blade between the tubes to illuminate the operating area.

6 DH 3 513 36 26 Y I SEARCH ROOM [72] Inventor RobertE.Florln 2,354,4717/1944 Maclntosh l28/16X 14909 Lodsa Drive, Whittler, Calif. 906052,767,705 10/1956 Moore 128/4 [211 App]. No. 865,675 2,911,968 11/1959Schueler et a1. 128/6 gg Primary Examiner-Lucie H. LaudenslagerAu0meyLyon & Lyon [54] Z 'f g E BRAIN RETRACTOR ABSTRACT: A surgicaltool comprising a brain retractor is as shaped so that it may passthrough an opening in the skull. The

[52] US. Cl n 128/20, tool has an arched blade with a concave lowersurface, flat in 128/4, 128/6, 128/16, 128/276 cross section, and a pairof tubes mounted on the marginal [51] Int. Cl ..A6lb 17/02 edges of thearched blade are flush with the lower surface [50] Field of Search128/4, 6,9, thereof. Both tubes may be connected to a source of suctionJ 20, 276, 16, 351 pressure for removal of fluids from the operatingarea, or only i one may be so connected, with the other supplying aflushing Rehrcncescmd fluid. A curved fiber optic element is mountedupon the UNITED STATES PATENTS arched blade between the tubes toilluminate the operating 339,754 4/1886 Foote 128/16 area 1 ILLUMINATEDSUCTION BRAIN RETRACT OR skull. The .brain retractor is equipped with atleast one suction tube for removing fluids from the operating area andis provided with a curved fiber optic for illuminating the operatingarea. A secomlsd be used to apply suction, or it may be used to supplyflushing fluid to the operating area. The fiber optic is nested betweenthe tubes to minimize overall thickness of the tool, in order tofacilitate its use through the skull opening.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a top plan view showing a preferred embodiment of thisinvention.

FIG. 2 i', a sectional elevation taken substantially on the lines22asshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially on the lines 3-3 asshown in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the surgical tool generally' designated I0includes an arched retractor blade 11 having an undersurface 12longitudinally curved and substantially flat in cross section. A pair oftubes 13 and 14 are provided, one tube being positioned at each marginaledge of the retractor blade,

respectively, each tube being substantially flush with said undersurfaceI2. The tubes I3 and 14 are joined to the arched retractor blade 12throughout their lengths to stiffen the retractor blade 11. The tubeshave slanted open ends 15 and I6 adjacent the forward end 17 of theretractor blade 11. Each tube has a socket 18, 19 for connection to thesource of suction pressure, or alternatively, one of the tubes may beconnected to suction pressure and the other to a source of flushingfluid. As shown in FIG. 3, the outer surfaces of the tubes l4 and 13merge smoothly with the undersurface 12 of the arched retractor blade I1so that the side edges of the tool are rounded.

A fiber optic element 21 of conventional form is curved to match thecurvature of the retractor blade 11 and is nested between the tubes 13and 14. Axially spaced clips 22 and 23 hold the fiber opticelement 21 inposition, and the forward end 24 teri'ii'ih'at e s short of the openends 15 of the tubes 13 the forward end 24 of the fiber optic element 21serves to illu-" minate the operating area, while forming a minimumobstruction in the surgeon's viewing area. The use of the fiber opticelement has an important advantage in that it acts as a filter to screenout heat which would have harmful effects upon brain tissue.

In use, the tool is extended by the surgeon through an opening in theskull, and the undersurface 12 presses against the tissue to retract it,to expose an operating area. The nesting of the fiber optic element 21between the suction tubes I3 and I4 minimizes the transverse thicknessdimension in such a manner that the tool is substantially wider than itsoverall thickness. This is important in minimizing the size of thenecessary hole to be fonned in the skull, and in providing maxmumunblocked viewing area for the surgeon. Uniform illu- "mination of thedepth of a surgical wound is provided while removal of blood or fluid isaccomplished by one or both of the tubes. Onev of the tubes may also beused to deliver an irrigating solution into the wound. The convexcurvature of the retractor blade permits the surgeon to hold theinstrument without interfering with visualization of the wound.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I amnot to be limited to the details herein set forth but that my inventionis of the full scope of the appended claims.

Iclaim:

I. In a surgical tool of the class described, the combination of anarched retractor blade having a concave undersurface longitudinallycurved and substantially flat in cross section, a

pair of tubes one positioned at each mar inal edgeof the retractorblade, respectively, and substantia y flush with said undersurface, anda curved fiber optic element mounted on the retractor blade and nestedbetween said tubes.

2. In a surgical tool of the class described, the combination of anarched retractor blade having a concave undersurface longitudinallycurved and substantially flat in cross section, a pair of tubes, onepositioned at each marginal edge of the retractor blade, respectively,and substantially flush with said undersurface, and a curved fiber opticelement mounted on the retractor blade and nested between said tubes,said tubes having slanted open ends terminating near the forward end ofthe retractor blade.

3. The combination set forth in claim I in which the open end of thefiber optic element terminates short of the open ends of the tubes.

4. The surgical tool construction set forth in claim I wherein thesurgical tool is substantially wider than its overall thickness, intransverse dimension.

I e a l a n-

1. In a surgical tool of the class described, the combination of anarched retractor blade having a concave undersurface longitudinallycurved and substantially flat in cross section, a pair of tubes, onepositioned at each marginal edge of the retractor blade, respectively,and substantially flush with said undersurface, and a curved fiber opticelement mounted on the retractor blade and nested between said tubes. 2.In a surgical tool of the class described, the combination of an archedretractor blade having a concave undersurface longitudinally curved andsubstantially flat in cross section, a pair of tubes, one positioned ateach marginal edge of the retractor blade, respectively, andsubstantially flush with said undersurface, and a curved fiber opticelement mounted on the retractor blade and nested between said tubes,said tubes having slanted open ends terminating near the forward end ofthe retractor blade.
 3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in whichthe open end of the fiber optic element terminates short of the openends of the tubes.
 4. The surgical tool construction set forth in claim1 wherein the surgical tool is substantially wider than its overallthickness, in transverse dimension.